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5493(II)_Will you become my friend? - Fr. John Lee publication finally in English

October 26, 2020

Seoul, South Korea (KOR), 26 October 2020 -- The best missionary animation is to let the missionary speak out. During this missionary month of October we may be encouraged by the consistent daily storytelling or short missionary profiles: North Philippines - Malaysia province, FIN (Oct 11-Nov 11) or by the Australia - Pacific province, AUL (Aug 15-Sept 15). These short testimonials are very inspiring and easy to share.

Also the widespread story of Fr. John Lee (1962-2010), Korean missionary in South Sudan, is being told over and over. Korea province (Holy Korean Martyrs Seoul) has declared this year a special time to revive and highlight the memory of the late Fr. John Lee Taesok (1962-2020). Due to the pandemic not all planned events were followed exactly according to the timeline, but some lasting fruits will remain. For the Salesian Family worldwide and also for missionary animation this year two movies have already been released - 'Don't Cry for me Sudan - Shukran Baba' (January) and 'The Resurrection' (July).

Around the new year 2021 we expect two new books to be released: one is the Biography entrusted to Lee Chung Ryol (author of the late Cardinal Stephen Kim's biography) to be published and distributed by a major Korean publisher “Kim Yong Sa" in Korean. All these above-mentioned movies and book are so far available only in Korean.

There is a good news that a second publication will reach beyond South Korea. After 4 years of searching for a quality translator from Korean to English, the 2009 Korean publication of Fr. John Lee’s book ‘Will You Be My Friend?’ will be released soon in English. The Korean original essay collection written by Fr John Lee himself is a bestseller in Korea, reprinted no less than 30 times by the Caritas Sisters ‘Bible & Life Publishing House’. For eventual translations to other EAO languages, you may contact the Korea province SC office.

Together with the small community looking after the 'Memorial hall of Fr John Lee' in his native Busan, we believe that this small book will help to spread the Salesian spirit of joy, service and sharing far and wide.